The 1964 World Series was between the St Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. Mr Eugene Green was my 4th Grade teacher. Mr Green brought in a television set so we could watch the games. World Series games were played during the day then. If a teacher didn't allow a TV in the classroom,a kid's best hope was that the game was still on by the time one got home from school. Mr Green still made the World Series a learning experience as we were to bring in any news clippings about the game and if the Cardinals won,those clippings were posted on red construction paper and blue if the Yankees won.. Cardinals won in 7 games
The 1965 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Dodgers was the first Series where I had a rooting interest. By then,I had become a full blown baseball fan and had seen the Twins play earlier in the season. Twins pitcher Jim "Mudcat" Grant was one of my favorite players and when the Twins jumped out to a 2 games to none lead,I thought for certain they would win. Learned you can never count out a team that had Sandy Koufax on its roster.
1969's World Series was like Christmas in October. I'm certain it was like that for every fan of the New York Mets. How could one not believe in miracles after the clown princes of baseball defied 100-1 odds to beat the mighty Baltimore Orioles?? It was worth getting busted with my transistor radio in Colonel Leiby's Algebra class and being met at my front door by my grandmother after school warning me not to go crazy like Mets fans at Shea Stadium.
With Alaska not having live TV yet,I was reduced to following the 1973 Series between the New York "You Gotta Believe" Mets and Oakland A's on my radio..vivid memories of Lindsay Nelson talking about 80 degree weather in New York as I am looking at snow falling from my Anchorage college dorm room.
I hate that the first World Series game I got to attend live was Game 4 of the 1976 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati "Big Red Machine" Reds. Didn't really like the Reds and hated the Yankees but when you have a chance to go to a World Series game live,what are you supposed to do? I do remember leaving with a quiet smirk,quiet because though I was happy to see the Yankees go down,I saw openly happy Reds fans leaving being punched out and needing hospital attention due to asshole Yankee fans.
Game 6 of the 1986 World Series with 2 outs and the Boston Red Sox leading the New York Mets in the bottom of the 10th inning,I had unplugged my landline phone,had put my Mets cap on and was planning to drown my sorrows at a Denver bar. Thanks to Bill Buckner,I woke up my 4 month old daughter and for Game 7, Denver Police visited my apartment thinking there was a domestic disturbance.
Game 7 of the 1991 World Series between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves found me catching the game at Liquor Lyle's in Minneapolis. With 2 for 1 beers and chicken wings,I caught Jack Morris's 10 inning masterpiece. The atmosphere at Lyle's was like being in the Metrodome,and after the game, in joining Twins fans on Hennepin Avenue in Downtown Minneapolis, I learned Minnesotans do have a wild side.
2015's World Series and now we're in the era of the internet and social media. I'll remember that Series between the New York Mets and Kansas City Royals for the texting and social message commentary between myself and fellow Mets fan Andrew Ward (who I met online) as much as my concern for when Manager Terry Collins left pitcher Matt Harvey in the game for one inning too long.
The World Series through the years has provided lots of memories both on the field and off. I wonder what awaits this year's Series?
One last note..I dont care if I'm 100 years old and can barely see or hear,I'm hoping to still be on this earth to see the New York Mets defeat the Yankees in the World Series!
